Battersea Park
The Battersea Park is a 0.83 km² large park in Battersea , London , England . It is on the south side of the Thames across from Chelsea and opened in 1858.
The park stands on former marshland reclaimed from the Thames and the site of an old market.
history
Battersea fields was once a well-known place for duels. For example, the Duke of Wellington and the tenth Earl of Winchilsea once dueled in this area, with Wellington shooting past Winchilsea and Winchilsea into the air. The duke later apologized for the reason for the duel.
The original design of the park was done by Sir James Pennethorne between 1846 and 1864, although the park opened as early as 1858.
One of the first football games under today's rules was also held in the park in 1864 and hosted by the Football Association through Arthur Pember .
Battersea Park has been home to one of England's premier amateur football clubs , Wanderers FC, since the 1860s . This was also the winner of the first FA Cup in 1872. This team also played against Sheffield FC in the park.
In the 1950s the park was converted into Festival Gardens as part of the 1951 Festival of Britain . This is why many of the somewhat outdated metal elements such as handrails and parts of the children's playgrounds, which are gradually being modernized, come from. The Guinness watch , which was very popular then and now , was also built at this time.
Battersea fun fair
In addition to changing the park through the Festival Gardens , the park was also changed through the establishment of the Battersea Fun Fair. Roller coasters, swings and carousels were installed for general family entertainment.
Probably the most spectacular attraction was the Big Dipper . It was closed in 1972 after five children were killed in an accident when a car came loose and collided with another. The absence of this main attraction dwindled the park's popularity and led to its closure in 1977. The remaining attractions were dismantled or sold to other parks.
Current character traits of the park
The place where the amusement park used to stand has been leveled and is now used as a venue for traveling fairs and exhibitions. It is currently the venue for the Battersea Evolution , formerly known as Battersea Park Events Arena .
The park is also home to a small zoo, a pond that can be accessed by boats, an orchestra pavilion, and various all-weather outdoor sports venues such as B. tennis courts, running tracks, soccer fields and lawn bowling.
Also in the park is the Peace Pagoda , which was built in 1985 during Ken Livingstone's tenure as chairman of the Greater London Council . A replica of a bronze statue of a dog, reminiscent of the so-called Browndog Affair , was also put up in 1985.
Between 2002 and 2004 the park underwent a £ 11 million renovation funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund . The park was reopened on June 4, 2004 by Prince Philip .
Meet Me in Battersea Park
The park was themed in Petula Clark's song Meet Me In Battersea Park from 1954. The text is from Joe Henderson, Leslie Clark and David Valentine:
- If you're a Londoner just like me, meet me in Battersea Park
- If you are young or you'd like to be, meet me in Battersea Park
- We'll stroll along by the riverside in sunshine or after it's dark
- There's music and dancing, place for romancing so meet me in Battersea Park
- See the people riding on the round-a-bouts and swings
- Children so delighted at the puppets on the strings
- Chair o-planes a wheeling as they fly through the air
- Take a holiday, have a jolly day, come to the fair
Nearby train stations
Web links
- Map of the park (English)
- Friends of Battersea Park (English)
- Rotary Club of Battersea Park (English)
Coordinates: 51 ° 28 ′ 45.5 " N , 0 ° 9 ′ 29.9" W.